I then alluded to an exciting new development in that same area shared with us by Bil Paul, researcher for the route.

In a recent email, Bil happily reported to us that a new rail trail is in the works. The Great Shasta Rail Trail will be an 80mile multi-use trail between McCloud and Burney mostly parallel to SR 89. We were thrilled to hear it!

This trail is still in the early stages of its creation and fundraising to buy the rail bed is a high priority. "We have two years (from March 2012) to raise the funds to purchase the property. We hope to do that in less time. Once we own the property we’ll start improving the infrastructure. We’ll probably focus on opening the parts of the trail closest to the two towns McCloud and Burney first. We’ll be posting information on our web site www.shastatrail.org so folks can follow our progress there and on our Facebook page," said April Gray, President of McCloud Local First Network, a nonprofit organization working to improve the local economy and one of five nonprofits working together to develop the trail.

Though plans do not include paving the trail, our hope is that it will remain well maintained like many of its rail trail counterparts across the country. Most bicycle travelers on this route will have a slightly more rugged set up allowing a comfortable ride on packed gravel and ought to find it a welcome break from riding on SR 89. Since it will stay relatively close to SR 89 and the towns along the way, services will be readily available from end to end.

GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures, and persons from the Adventure Cycling Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.